The EU and the US have reportedly signed on the dotted lines to protect personal data shared for law enforcement purposes, including terrorism investigations.

The ‘umbrella agreement’ between the two sides will ensure protection of personal data exchanged between police and judicial authorities, or between companies and law enforcement authorities, during the course of any investigation.

Negotiations have been going on for more than four years, but the talks have been hampered because EU citizens residing outside the US do not have the right to file a case in US court if they believe their data has been misused.